Gauge



2 Shgets-Sheec 2 Oct. 22, 1.946. D. WEBBER GAUGE Filed Jan. 10, 1,945

. composite Patented Oct. 22, 1946 UN 1 TED s-TATE-s. PATEN T or FleeGAUG George DrWebljer, Lakewood, Ohio gApplicationjJanuary 10, 1945,Serial'No. 572,109

This invention relates to an instrument for measuring and/orindicatin'gdimensions and more specifically to a gauging instrumentincluding a pluralityf accurately formed gauge blocks and one or morecooperating' devices adapted to be combined in variousarrangements forvery accurately measuring-inside or outside dimensions --or indicating,asby scribing a line, preselected heights above or otherwise spaced froma-reference surface.

Highpreoision gauge blocks in setsarein gen- -eral use.'" The blocks ofa set have opposing paral- 'lel substantiallyf. flat-measuring faces;hereinafter-referred to-ior convenience as-end faces spacedapartveryaocurately at predetermined meter and may -include blocks havinglengths which are integral-multiples of such -unit.- The differentclasses 7 ofblocks may thus I. beidentL- fled; for discussiom as.fiintegral and 1 fnon-integral or fractionalblocks; By stackingselected blocks of the set in end-to-end"relationship; cornpositeg-auging structures :havinglengths variable in-steps ofthe order-ofthousandths'or ten-thousandthsof an inch may be sccured the size of thesteps and-"the possible maximum and mini- .mum overall lengths beingdependent upon the number and sizeoi the blocks in the-set.

"For most purposes the individual blocks of a gauge structure such asdescribed above are merely wrungtogether, but for measuring orindicating distances between relatively remote points, as above asurface plate or for measuring between, e. g., horizontally spacedpoints, as for checking internal diameters-during formation on agrinder, the instability of this method of assembly renders it desirablethat the blocks be more securely but detachably fastened together."Prior fastening or coup-ling means" of the type "which required screwsto be "passed through or into each block used in-the instrument havemany 1 disadvantages. I For example, interruption of the measuring orendsurfacesby holes obviously is objectionable; excessive time isrequired to assemble anddisassemble"the instrument; a tool such asascrew-driver and which is apt to damage the finish of the blocks mustbe used with the blocks, and all of the blocks of the set, including thefractional or 'non-integral blocks-must be specially formed to cooperatewith the fastening means. Prior general purwould; tend to'tilt.contiguousublocks out: of alignment instead ofiurging them together withforces entirely normal to -themutually: contacting faces.Anobjectfofflthis invention is to' provide a gauge instrument of theabove indicated character which has none of the foregoing disadvantages.

In accordance withxthis invention, at composite gauge structure is:provided in which;the:;individual gauge'blocks are securely heldtogetherby improved coupling means; :One type of improved couplingmeansincludes arotatable. eccentric pin receivedcin a -oooperatingtransverse. opening in a gauge block, mounting .base or workcontactingmemberrof'the set, and permits axpairof gauge -blocks to bessecuredtogether: and/or to such mounting basewon-memberby a. :wedging actionresulting from the mere;turnin'g:iof a. knob out of anormalpositionuinnwhich the .knob is held by a spring, and without t'heuse of ,tools. The coupling means having the eccentricilpin isparticularly suitable i .f or securing together; gauge blocks of=-re'lative1y large lengths, e; g.. "lengths which areintegralmultiplesiof an inchji although 'useable for shorter: lengths; and oneonmore couplings may be used to build up a rigidcomposite gaugestructurel to. a height ormlength somewhat-less than that desired.Suchzintegral blocks, except for a base block,"-*difi'eri=rfrom standard1 blocks of integral. length only ,in'. that eachof-theintegraliblocks'of the improved gauge the composite structure; justdescribed to-secure thereto one or more relativelyshortgaugei blocks, e.g. having lengths which are-fractional parts of an inch, and to secureawork contacting or distance indicating member in place o'n' 'the com'sion. Said othertype' of couplingmeans hereof may take the form ofascrevv clamp; and in addition to its function "of holding the integraland non-integral blocks together in end-to-end relationship, it is usedas one manner of fastening a scriber, feeler, center point or otherworkcontacting or distance indicating instrument to the gaugingstructure.

A further object of this invention includes provision of a measuringinstrument comprising a plurality of gauge blocks, bars or otherprecisely formed distance pieces detachably held together in an improvedmanner.

Another object is to provide a distance measuring instrument comprisinga selectable number of integral and non-integral gauge block elementsand a work contacting element or indicator held together by simplereadily releasable coupling means.

Another object is to provide a gauging instrument comprising a pair ofgauge blocks or distance pieces held together by a readily releasablecoupling means operable by a wedging and/or clamping action which tendsto maintain the blocks in true alignment and at uniform pressurethroughout this area of mutual contact.

A further object is to provide a gauging instrument comprising aplurality of stacked gauge:

blocks or distance pieces with provision to releasably hold laterallyprojecting members of various types applicable to reference surfaces,work surfaces and the like for gauging operations of the various kindsrequired in machine sho prac-. tice.

Still another object is to provide a height gauge comprising a pluralityof gauge blocks, some of which blocks are held together by a couplingmeans operable by a wedging action and some of which blocks are heldtogether by a coupling means operable by a clamping action.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description of the preferred forms shown in theaccompanying drawings. The essential characteristics are summarized inthe claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the instrument arranged to serve as aheight gauge and line scriber;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of approximately the arrangementaccording to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail of one end portion of a blockcoupling device shown by Figs. 1, 2 and 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view on the order of Fig. 3, showing a screwoperated coupling device in the process of being disconnected from anassociated block element;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the screw operated coupling device;

Figs. 7 and 8 are perspective views showing the gauge instrumentalitieshereof arranged to serve as a precision divider and general purposegauge, respectively; and

Figs. 9 and 10 are diagrammatic views showing the operation of aneccentric locking and clamping mechanism according to Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

An illustrative height gaugein accordance with this invention, and asshown by Figs. 1 and 2, comprises a base block In adapted to rest on asurface plate II (Fig. 2), a plurality of relatively long (integral)gauge blocks I2, marked I2a, I21), I20, etc., mutually stacked inend-to-end relationship and supported on a flat top surface I3 of thebase block I0, and a plurality of relatively short (non-integral) gaugeblocks I4,

marked I la, I lb, and Me. The non-integral blocks are mutually stackedin end-to-end relationship and are supported on a top surface I! of theuppermost integral gauge block (I2d Fig. 1, I Fig. 2). The opposinghorizontal surfaces of each of the gauge blocks are finished as bylapping to extreme flatness, are accurately spaced apart within limitsof a few millionths of an inch, and are in true parallelism as .known inthe art of making'high precision gaugeblocks. It is to be understoodthat any suitable number of integral and non-integral gauge blocks maybe used, and, as will become apparent hereinafter, one or more of therelatively long blocks may be substituted for some of the relativelyshort blocks.

The block I2a is detachably secured to the base block Ill and the blocksI2b, I20, etc., are

detachably secured together by coupling devices I5 which are applicableselectively at opposite faces and ends of the blocks I2. The blocks I4,which may be unaltered gauge blocks of a standard set of appropriatehorizontal size, are detachably secured together in stacked relation andto the top integra1 block I2 by a coupling device or unit I6 which alsodetachably holds an indicating, measuring or other work-contactingblock, shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as a scriber I8, in operating position onthe top surface 23 of the uppermost block I4.

In Figs. 1 and 2, the base block I0 comprises an upright gauge portionl9, an integral buttress portion 29 of lesser height and of greatertransverse dimensions than the portion I9, and a pair of opposedconnecting and stiffening webs 2|. Opposite side faces 22 of the portion20 may be somewhat concave as shown to provide thumb and finger holdsarranged to facilitate handling of the base and the gauge assembly. Thebottom face 24 of the base is generally fiat, but may be recessed,inwardly from the margins, as suggested by a dotted line at 2411 in Fig.2. r

The top surface I3 of the gauge portion I9 is a gauging surface and isfinished with extreme accuracy so as to be parallel with and apredetermined distance from the finished portion of the bottom surface24. An accurately positioned and formed transverse cylindrical opening26in the gauge portion I9 is provided for cooperation with one of thecoupling devices I5 or directly with the coupling device IS in case acomparatively low-height gauge is desired.

Although the gauge blocks I2 and I4 may be and usually are each of adifferent height, said blocks have transverse dimensions which aresubstantially equal to the corresponding transverse dimensions of thegauge portion I9 of the base block I0. Although the gauge portion I9 andthe blocks I2 may have any suitable vertical lengths,

- it is preferred, if the inch or centimeter is used as the measuringunit, that the height of the blocks l2 and of the portion I9 be integralmultiples of the unit. Thus the base block II] and a minimum number ofgauge blocks I2 may be used to form a composite structure having aheight somewhat less than a non-integral height or distance to bemeasured, or exactly equal to an integral height or distance to bemeasured.

The gauge blocks I2 are each provided with a pair of Vertically spaced,cylindrical openings 26, preferably through openings as shown, which arevery accurately formed and which have their respective axes parallel toand spaced equidistantly from their respective nearest adjacent gaugingsurfaces. The opening 26 in the baseblock I I] or yoke member 46 intowhich a clamping screw 48 is threaded, and a clamping jaw 49 connect-.ed with the screw and slidable along the side members. The screw has aknurled head portion 48a above the yoke. The side members 45 have pairsof spaced leg portions 56 secured to the block 46 at suitable cornernotches of the block as by screws 54. The clamping ja'w'49 is rotatablysecured for swivelling relative movement to a reduced lower end portionof the screw 48 as by parallel cross pins 56 on the jaw lying partly ina peripheral groove 4% of the screw. The jaw 49 has opposed pairs ofspaced slots 58 (Fig. 6) which slidably receive the legs 56,respectively, of the side members 45. Upon turning of'the screw 46 it isapparent that the jaw 49 moves longitudinally as guided by the legs 50.

The lower or bight portions of the side members 45 are spaced apartsubstantially the width of the gauge blocks I2 and I4 and the blockportion of the scriber I8 and are provided with spring biased movablelatch pins 54 extending toward each other for detachable engagement 5with the transverse openings 26 of the larger blocks I2 when one of thelatter is positioned between the side members 45. As shown, the pins 54are carried on T-shaped leaf spring members 52 secured to respectiveside members 45 as by screws 53. The pins 54 may be riveted to therespective springs as at 54a (see Fig. 3), and the inner ends or headportions of the pins slidably extend through openings 55 in the sidemembers for engagement and disengagement with the holes 26. Thesupporting springs limit the movement of the pins toward each other aswill be clear from inspection of Fig. 3. The head portions of the pinsas shown in Figs. 3 and 5 comprise acutely truncated cylinders, thelonger upper sides of which normally extend inwardly considerably beyondthe inner faces of respective side members 45, and the shorter lowersides of which do not extend inwardly through or at least beyond theopenings 55.

It will be apparent from the above that when the side members 45 areslid endwise over the uppermost block I2 (I20 in Figs, 2 and 3) theinner beveled faces of the latch pins 54 are cammed outwardly by theupper corners of said top block adjacent respective main side faces ofthe block, and that when the pins register with the opening 26 of saidtop block, the pins snap into place. The pins when in seated positionmay substantially fit the openings 26 so that the lower end of thedevice I6 is centered relative to the top block I2.

After the proper number and size gauge blocks I4 are stacked inend-to-end relationship on the surface II (Figs. 2 and 3) and betweenthe members 45 to reach a desired height above the surface Ii, thescriber I8, for example, is placed on the top surface 23 of theuppermost short block I40 and the screw 48 turned so as to force the jaw49 against the top of the scriber thereby to clamp the blocks I4 as wellas the scriber securely to the block I20.

The body 66 of the scriber I8 preferably has the same transversedimensions as the gauge blocks I2 and I4 and a height somewhat greaterthan the distance from the holes 26 of the blocks I2 to the nearest endfaces of respective blocks. The wear resisting sharp point 6I of thescriber is formed on a right triangular projection 62 of the scriberbody. The bottom face 63 of the body and projection 62 is an accuratelyfinished flat surface in the lane of the scriber point. The

body 66 has a transverse hole 26 accurately located a distance above theface 63 corresponding to the distance of the other holes 26 fromadjacent end faces of the blocks I2 in which they are formed so that thescriber can be mounted at either end of the instrument (of. Fig. 7). Theedge 6| may be used to scribe a line on anarticle being gauged or set upfor marking on the surface plate II in a well known manner. The loweredge of such scribed line is exactly the same height above the surfaceplate I I as is the surface 23 of the top non-integral gauge block I4. 7Alternatively, the lower side 60 of the scriber may be used as ameasuring face to make contactwith a piece to be checked for heightthereof above the surface plate.

Because the lower portions of the bevel faces of the pins 54 do notenter the upper opening 26 of the top block I2, the coupling device I6may be detached from said top block, or any other block L2 to whichconnected, by inward movement of the coupling device I6 endwise alongsuch block,

as brought out by Fig. 5. The detaching operation is acomplished afterthe non-integral blocks I4 and (e. g.) the scriber I8 have been removedfrom beneath the clamping jaw and (with the particular arrangement shownby Figs. 2 and 3) after the blocks I22) and I20 have been disconnectedfrom each other. The pins are cammed outwardly by the lower edge wallsurfaces of the engaged opening 26, thereby enabling the top block I2 tobe slid out from between the side members 45 in a direction parallel tothe principal planes thereof for complet disconnection without having tomanipulate the pins 54 'or their supporting springs.

The scriber I8 is one of a set of special blocks including block 65, I5and others if desired (see Figs. '7 and 8), each of which has ameasuring'or indicating point or face corresponding generally to theface 63 and point 6| of the scriber and each of which preferably has anopening 26 to cooperate with the connectors I5. Thus each special blockmay be used at either end of the face such as the end face of any of theblocks l2 or the exposed end face of a block I4. The body portion 66 hasa hole 26. A neck portion 10 of the center point indicator or marker 65termi-.

nates in a cylindrical head portion II which has a conical face I2defining a hard .and wear resisting point I4. The point I4 is usable formarking a center or engaging a prick punch socket for example and liesin the same plane as the face 69 so that a mark made or center socketengaged by the point I4 is exactly the desired distance from a referenceposition such as established by the surface plate II when the centerpoint block 65 is used for example in place of the scriber I8 in theassembly according to Figs. 1 and 2. In Fig; '7 the scriber point GI andcenter point I4 cooperate to provide a high. precision divider. Themanner of mounting the members I8 and 65 interchangeably at oppositeends of the assembled blocks I2 and I4 will b clear from the showing andforegoing description.

Each of the caliper jaw blocks I5 shown in Fig. 8 comprises a bodyportion 'IS'similar to the body ings,. and a supporting frame forreceivingadditional gauge blocks in stacked relationship, said framehaving means to enter an opening of one of the first mentioned blocks,and clamping means spaced therefrom lengthwise of the assembled blocks,said two means of the frame cooperating .to force the blocks which arein stacked relationship toward each other and toward the first mentionedblocks.

11. A' height gauge comprising apair of gauge blocks having gauging facesurfaces in engagement, a tension member secured to one of said blocksagainst movement toward the other of said blocks, a cylindrical socketin said other of said blocks having an axis substantially parallel tosaid engaging faces and intersecting opposite side faces, a generallycylindrical pin received in said socket and mounted for rotation by saidtension member, a head portion of said pin within said socket beingeccentric with respect to the axis of rotation of said pin and normallymaking contact with the socket only approximately midway between theopposite side faces of the associated block intersected by the axis ofthe socket.

12. A gauge comprising in combination a pair of gauge blocks eachprovided With opposing parallel fiat gauging faces at a predeterminedprecise distance apart and each having a pair of through holes havingaxes parallel to said gauging faces, each of the holes in each blockbeing spaced equidistantly from the gauging face closest theretoregardless of the distance between the gauging faces, coupling meansmounting a pair of spaced pins normally freely receivable in said holesof each block, respectively, when gauging faces of said blocks are incontact, one of said pins being eccentric with respect to its associatedhole and mounted for rotation, and said eccentricity causing saidrotatable pin upon rotation to wedge against a side wall of itsassociated hole, whereby said blocks are held in face to face contact.

13. A gauge comprising a main gauge block having an end face and a pairof opposing side faces, recesses in said side faces, respectively, acoupling device having a pair of opposing spaced leg portions dependingfrom a yoke portion and adapted to engage the side faces of said maingauge block, respectively, retractable pins mounted at the free endportion of said leg portions, respectively, and disposed inwardly ofsaid leg portions toward each other, said pins being complementary tosaid recesses, respectively, and receivable therein after retraction topermit said main gauge block to be slidably received between said legportions, a jaw member adjustably mounted by said yoke and movablelongitudinally of said leg portions, and one or more supplemental gaugeblocks slidably received between said leg portions and between the endface of said main gauge block and said jaw member.-

14. A gauge in accordance with claim 13 characterized in that said pinsare provided with cam surfaces, respectively, positioned for engagementwith corners of one of said gauge blocks to effect said retraction ofsaid pins.

15. A gauge comprising in combination a main gauge block provided with aflat gauging face, a pair of substantially parallel side facesperpendicular to said gauging face, an aperture in said block openinginto said side faces'and having an axis parallel to saidgauging face, aclamp member having a pair of opposed parallel arms depending from ayoke portion, each of said arms retractably mounting an inwardlydisposed pin at its free end portion, said pins being generallycomplementary to said aperture and receivable in opposite ends thereof,respectively, by effecting a retraction of said pins and then permittingsaid pins to return to their normal position, an abutment portionadjustably mounted by said clamp member for movement longitudinally ofsaid arms, andone or more supplemental gauge blocks each provided withopposing parallel flat gauging faces at a predetermined precise distanceapart and disposed in stackedrelation between the gaug ing face ofsaidmain gauge block and said abutment portion.

16-. A coupling device for use in holding a plurality of gauge blocks inassembled relation, comprising a frame having a pair of spacedleg'portions adapted to slidably receive said gauge blocks therebetween,a pair of opposing pins mounted by the nearest surface of the gaugeblocks which are received between said legs.

' 17. A coupling device in accordance with claim 16 characterized inthat the inner end faces of said pins are acutely truncated cylinders todefine opposing end faces which diverge longitudinally of said legstoward the free ends of said legs, the marginal areas of said end facesnearest the free end of said legs being normally spaced 'apart adistance greater than the distance between said legs. 7

18. A coupling device for securing a pair of gauge blocks in face toface contact and comprising a supporting member having a facesurfaceadapted to engage aligned side faces of said blocks, a pair ofpins mounted by said member and extending outwardly from said surface,one of said pins being mounted for rotation about an axis which iseccentric with respect to the axis of a circular portion of said pinwhich projects beyond said face surface, and means operativelyinterconnecting said rotatable pin and said supporting member fornormally biasing said rotatable pin to a predetermined relative turnedposition with respect to said supporting member such that rotation ofsaid rotatable pin causes the axes of the projecting portions of saidpins to move relatively toward each other.

19. A coupling device for securing a pair of gauge blocks together incontiguous relationship to each other, which gauge blocks are each pro-'vided with a recess having a curved wall area, said coupling devicecomprising a pair of spaced pins each having a head portion ofsubstantially circular form defining a curved surface area operativelycomplementary to said curved wall area, means including spring biasingmeans normally supporting said pins in spaced relation for freeinsertion into said recesses, respectively, when said blocks arecontiguous to each other, the head portion of one of said pins beingrotatable against the spring biasing force about an axis which iseccentric with respect to the axis of the associated head portion.

' 20. A coupling device for securing a pair of gauge blocks in face toface contact and comprising a supporting member having a face surfaceadapted to engage aligned side faces of said blocks, a pair of pinsmounted by said member and extending outwardly from said surface, eachof said pins having a frusto-conical head portion tapering inwardlytoward said surface, and one of said pins being mounted for rotationabout an axis which is eccentric with respect to the axis of itsassociated head portion.

21. A coupling device in accordance with claim 20 characterized in thatmeans are provided for biasing said rotatably mounted pin to apredetermined relative turned position with respect to said supportingmember such that rotation of said rotatably mounted pin against saidbias causes said frusto-conical surfaces to move relatively toward eachother.

and to the end face of the respective block, each of said axes beingspaced an equal distance from its nearest adjacent end face regardlessof the distance between the end faces of the blocks, and means forengaging said openings of adjacent blocks to hold the blocks together.

GEORGE D. WEBBER.

